Qatar Palace Hotel

Great place to stay affordably adjacent to skyhigh

Prós: Staff were unbelievably kind and generous, constantly inquiring as to comfort and needs, and accommodating in every way possible. The Indian restaurant on the first floor (above G) has excellent food and kind service. Short walk to Souq Waqif (the main market) and Corniche, so you have the advantage of mid-range affordability, but you're right by the tourist quarter. The area looks a little dicey at night because it's a rundown, pre-reno quarter (and I hope it stays that way, rather then being Disneyfied and rendered unaffordable), but really it's perfectly safe, people are kind, as all of Doha.

Contras: Fourth-floor Wifi went out about halfway through stay, though staff moved quickly to correct in 12 hrs and gave me password for lobby level. Hot water did not reach the 4th floor, I accept as necessary evil of moderate pricing adjacent to tourist quarter. Walls were thin, a bit irritating with crying baby next door, but again, par for the course in older building. Note for location purposes: this is not the "Grand Qatar Palace," which is just half a block away, though just walk if the taxi drops you there. This place is right on Al Asmakh and well signed, but not as well known. Tell people it's the hotel where the Maharajah restaurant is. Oh, great food, but unshuttering the windows and letting some natural light in there would vastly improve the atmosphere.